references to Christmas in the Old and New Testaments

1. ADVENT and CHRISTMAS

2. The word "Advent“ comes
from latin: adventus
Redemptoris, = ‘Coming
of the Redeemer’)
It's the first period of the
Christian liturgical year.
This is awaiting period.
On the one hand, the
community of believers
awaits the glorious coming
of the Lord at last of the
times to judge men.
Now remember the wait
for the first coming of the
Christ with faith
and joy of Mary.

3. The theme of the hope of the second coming of Christ,
typical of the feast of Christ the King, continues in the
periodof Advent, when we commemorate his first
coming, being born of Mary in Bethlehem 2000 years
ago. In the early church, the birth ofJesus Christ, and a
time of preparation was observed for this. - In the Roman
church it is 4 weeks,- and in the orthodox it is 40 days.

4. Waiting for the celebration of the birth of Christ
in history, helped the faithful to wait for his
second coming at the end of time.
In our liturgical period of Advent, the readings of
the first weeks refer more to the second coming,
while the last week is about of the first
Christmas, when Jesus was born of Mary
in the portal of Bethlehem.

5. Advent season
invites us to
remember the past,
to live in the present and
to prepare the future.

6. Remember the past: - Celebrate and contemplate
the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The Lord has
already come and was born in Bethlehem.
This was His coming in the flesh, humble and poor.
He came as one of us, a man among men.

7. Live the present:
It's about living in
the present of our
daily life the
"presence of Jesus
Christ" in us and,
for us, in the world.
Live always vigilant,
walking the roads of
the Lord, in justice
and in love.

8. Prepare the future:
It is about preparing ourselves
for the Parousia or second
coming of Jesus Christ inthe
"majesty of his glory" from him.

9. Then he will come as Lord and as Judge of all nations, and will
reward with Heaven those who have believed in him; lived as
faithful children of the Father and have been good brothers to all.

10. Benedict XVI says - The coming of the Lord in Bethlehem and his last
coming are united, not as two different comings, but as a single and unique
coming, unfolded in different stages. It is necessary to distinguish in Advent
a double perspective: - first existential – then cultic or liturgical.

11. Both perspectives are not opposed, but
complement and enrich each other. The
cult waiting, which is carried out in the
liturgical celebration of the Christmas
feast, becomes eschatological hope
projected towards the final parousia.

12. ADVENT
CHARACTERS

13. PREPARATION IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT
ISAIAS
He is the great teacher of Advent,
"Prepare the way of the Lord.
"He is the spolkesman of God;
the Lord's crier, and prophet of the true
and only messiah. He describes with
images full of beauty and symbolism the
peace, joy and security of messianic
times. He directs his gaze beyond
afflictions of the present time and
centers them on an era of universal
peace, which will be inaugurated for the
Messiah, who is meek, and wise and a
lover of peace. The scattered children of
God will return from exile. Mount Zion
will become the apex, in the center not
only of Israel but of all the earth. Isaiah
is the forerunner ofuniversalism of the
gospel.“Therefore the Lord himself will
give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will
conceive and give birth to a son, and
will call his name Emanuel "(Is 7:14).

14. Jeremiah
"Behold, days are coming
declares the Lord, in which
I will fulfill the good word
that I have spoken to the
house of Israel and the house
of Judah. In those days and at
that time I will sprout from
David a just Branch, and He
will do judgment and justice
on earth. In those days Judah
will be safe, and Jerusalem
will dwell safely, and this is
the name with which He will
be called: the Lord, our
justice. "33.14 – 16

15. Micah
He prophesies that from
Bethlehem, the smallest
among the cities of Judah,
will be born the Messiah,
the deliverer and that
He will be our peace.
“But you, Bethlehem,
Ephrata, small to be counted
among the families of Judah,
from you will come the one
who will be Lord in Israel;
and His origin is from
all of eternity ”.
(Micah 5: 2).

16. Zechariah
One day when Zacharias was
in the temple dedicated to his
priestly functions, an angel of
the Lord appeared on the right
side of the altar. The vision
troubled Zacharias, The angel
told him "Your prayer has
been heard, “Isabel, your wife,
she will give birth to a son
whom you will name Juan.
He will be great in the
presence of the Lord.
He will not drink wine or
liquor and will be filled with
the Holy Spirit. He is destined
to bring many children of
Israel to the Lord, his God.

17. Zacharias
the husband of Elizabeth,
he lived his whole life
fulfilling the law of God.
He waited against all hope.
His perseverence paid off,
and he sang a song of
thanksgiving for the birth of
John, the son of his old age.
He predicted his prophetic
mission, and praised
"The tender mercy of our
God", that he will visit us with
the sun that rises from above,
to illuminate those who live
in darkness and shadows of
death, to guide our sons on
the path of peace ”.

18. Saint John Baptist
From the very womb
of his mother he was
called to proclaim the
presence of the Lord.
He is the ideal
companion, austere
and joyful, who
prepares us to await
and expect the
coming of the Lord.

19. John, the herald and
forerunner of the Lord,
he calls us to conversion,
to austerity, and joy and the
following Jesus. He is the
greatest of those born of women.

20. And his voice keeps echoing
in the desert and in the hearts
of people of good will calling
for conversion and the
following of Jesus Christ.

21. He was chosen to show to the
people the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world.

22. John was
“The voice that
cries out in the
desert: Prepare
the way for
Yahweh.
Straighten the
highway in the
wasteland for
our God ”.
Isaiah 40: 3.
(Matthew 3: 1-3).

23. He will walk before God in the Spirit, and he will have
the power of Elijah to reduce the rebellious, in order
to prepare a well-disposed for the Lord”. Lk 1,17-

24. His purifying and penitential baptism in
theJordan inaugurated the living water that
since thenit has the power of salvation for men.

25. And finally gave
his blood as supreme
witness for the name
of Christ.

26. MARIA
Since the annunciation
Maria is the first to await
the birth of Christ.
She was initiated into
this mystery, at the personal
invitation of God.
She answered
"yes"generously upon
invitation to be the mother
of God, the instrument
by which God was
incarnated among men
and enter our history.

27. And entering, in his presence the angel said to
him: «Rejoice, full of grace,the Lord is with
you ».29 She was troubled by these words,and
she was wondering what that greeting would
mean.30 The angel said to her, “Don't be
afraid, Mary, because you have found favor
with God;31 you are going to conceive in the
womb and you are going to give birth to a son,
whom you will name Jesus.32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of
David, his father; 33 he will reign over the
house of Jacob for ever and his kingdom will
have no end.34 Mary answered the angel,
"How will this be, since I do not know a
man?"35 The angel replied, «The Holy Spirit
will come upon you and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; therefore the one to
be born will be holy and he will be called the
Son of God. 36 Look, also Elizabeth, your
relative, has conceived a child in her old age,
and this is already the sixth month for her who
was called barren, 37 because nothing is
impossible for God.38 Mary said: «Behold the
handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me
according to your word. ”Lk 1,28

28. Maria is the star of
Advent. She is the face,
lap, and fruit of Advent.
Mary of Nazareth lived
in her virginal womb,
in her mind and
in her heart,
the first and most
beautiful of the all
Advents, during the 9
months when she carried
in her womb, with
ineffable mother’s love
Jesus the Christ". What a
long and beautiful advent…!

29. She is the "mater spei",
the model of hope and
waiting. No one knew
better than she how to
prepare a place for the
Lord, for the Son who
grew in her womb.
Mary’s gestation
personifies the mother
church that is full of Christ
and gives Him as light, to
the whole world so that the
rest of her brothers may
live in peace

30. The promise
of Israel was
fulfilled in
Holy Mary
of Advent.
She is now
the hope of
the Church.

31. JOSÉ DE
NAZARET
the appearance of the angel
Mary was betrothed to Joseph
and, before they began
to be together,
she found herself pregnant
by the Holy Spirit.
Her husband Joseph was fair
and did not want to put her in
evidence, so he resolved to
secretly disown her.

32. However the angel of the
Lord appeared to him in a
dream and said: «Joseph, son
of David, do not be afraid to
take Mary as your wife
because what is begotten in
her is of the Holy Spirit. She
will give birth to a son, and
you will name him Jesus,
because he will save his
people from their sins».
All this happened so that the
oracle of the Lord would be
fulfilled through the prophet:
See that the virgin will
conceive and she will give
birth to a son, and they will
give him the name Immanuel,
which means: "God with
us."Lk 1,21-

33. ISABEL
Mary shared the joy of this
mystery with her cousin Isabel
hers. By God's work, Elizabeth
also expected a son, who would be
John the Baptist, the forerunner of
the Christ. Her unexpected and
late pregnancy is a grace in
anticipation of the Lord. She is a
model of the one who recognizes
the work of God, she blesses the
fruit of His love . - "Maria entered
Zacarias's houseand to greet
Isabel. When the old cousin heard
the words of Mary, she noticed
that the child that she had in her
womb, jumped for joy, and filled
with the Holy Spirit she exclaimed
enthusiastically: - Blessed are you
among women and blessed is the
fruit of your womb. Who am I to
deserve that the mother of my
Lordshould come to visit me?
Blessed are you who have
believed!, because everything the
Lord has told you will be fulfilled.
- The visitation Lk 1,39-

34. The three wise men
The three wise men meet to look for some sign because they
know from their studies that "something" is going to happen,
that something was going to happen.very important, although
they are wise and rich, they do not hesitate toon the march to
follow the sign (the star).In our life God gives us signs, little
starsthat show us the way. They left their comfort and safety
to follow the signs of the Lord. They had to fightthe elements,
the cold, the wind, and the ignorance of the powerful like
Herod and the mockery of many. They started a great
adventure, but their faith and hope and perseverancewas
urged because they came to see the Christ.

35. LIST OF PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH
Revised 24-11-2021
Advent and Christmas – time of hope and peace
All Souls Day
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – In the Light of the Word
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – The Experiences and Challenges of Families
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 - Looking to Jesus, the Vocation of the Family
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - Love in Marriage
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Love made Fruitfuol
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Some Pastoral Perspectives
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Towards a better education of children
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Accompanying, discerning and integrating weaknwss
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – The Spirituality of Marriage and the Family
Beloved Amazon 1ª – A Social Dream
Beloved Amazon 2 - A Cultural Dream
Beloved Amazon 3 – An Ecological Dream
Beloved Amazon 4 - An Ecclesiastical Dream
Carnival
Christ is Alive
Christ the King
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – Church and Family today
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - God’s plan for the family
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – family as a Community
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – serving life and education
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – mission of the family in society
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - Family in the Church
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Football in Spain
Haurietis aquas – devotion to the Sacred Heart by Pius XII
Holidays and Holy Days
Holy Spirit
Holy Week – drawings for children
Holy Week – glmjpses of the last hours of JC
Inauguration of President Donald Trump
Juno explores Jupiter
Laudato si 1 – care for the common home
Laudato si 2 – Gospel of creation
Laudato si 3 – Human roots of the ecological crisis
Laudato si 4 – integral ecology
Laudato si 5 – lines of approach and action
Laudato si 6 – Education y Ecological Spirituality
Love and Marriage 12,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Lumen Fidei – ch 1,2,3,4
Martyrs of North America and Canada
Martyrs of Vietnam
Medjugore Pilgrimage
Misericordiae Vultus in English
Mother Teresa of Calcuta – Saint
Pope Franciss in Thailand
Pope Francis in Japan
Pope Francis in Sweden
Pope Francis in Hungary, Slovaquia
Pope Francis in America
Pope Francis in the WYD in Poland 2016
Querida Amazonia
Resurrection of Jesus Christ –according to the Gospels
Russian Revolution and Communismo 3 civil war 1918.1921
Russian Revolution and Communism 1
Russian Revolution and Communismo 2
Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr
Saint Albert the Great
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Cecilia
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint James, apostle
Saint Joseph
Saint Maria Goretti
Saint Martin of Tours
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta
Saint Jean Baptiste MarieaVianney, Curé of Ars
Saint John of the Cross
Saint Patrick and Ireland
Saints Zachary and Elizabeth, parents of John Baptis
Signs of hope
Sunday – day of the Lord
Thanksgiving – History and Customs
The Body, the cult – (Eucharist)
Valentine
Vocation – mconnor@legionaries.org
Way of the Cross – drawings for children
For commentaries – email – mflynn@legionaries.org
Fb – Martin M Flynn
Donations to - BANCO - 03069 INTESA SANPAOLO SPA
Name – EUR-CA-ASTI
IBAN – IT61Q0306909606100000139493

36. LISTA DE PRESENTACIONES EN ESPAÑOL
Revisado 24-11-2021
Abuelos
Adviento y Navidad, tiempo de esperanza
Amor y Matrimonio 1 - 9
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – A la luz de la Palabre
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – Realidad y Desafíos de las Familias
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 La mirada puesta en Jesús: Vocación de la Familia
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - El Amor en el Matrimonio
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Amor que se vuelve fecundo
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Algunas Perspectivas Pastorales
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Fortalecer la educacion de los hijos
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Acompañar, discernir e integrar la fragilidad
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – Espiritualidad Matrimonial y Familiar
Carnaval
Cristo Rey
Cristo Vive
Dia de todos los difuntos
Domingo – día del Señor
El camino de la cruz de JC en dibujos para niños
El Cuerpo, el culto – (eucarisía)
Espíritu Santo
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – iglesia y familia hoy
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - el plan de Dios para la familia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – familia como comunidad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – servicio a la vida y educación
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – misión de la familia en la sociedad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - participación de la familia en la iglesia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Fátima – Historia de las Apariciones de la Virgen
Feria de Sevilla
Haurietis aquas – el culto al Sagrado Corazón
Hermandades y cofradías
Hispanidad
Laudato si 1 – cuidado del hogar común
Laudato si 2 – evangelio de creación
Laudato si 3 – La raíz de la crisis ecológica
Laudato si 4 – ecología integral
Laudato si 5 – líneas de acción
Laudato si 6 – Educación y Espiritualidad Ecológica
Lumen Fidei – cap 1,2,3,4
Madre Teresa de Calcuta – Santa
María y la Biblia
Martires de Nor America y Canada
Martires de Vietnam
Medjugore peregrinación
Misericordiae Vultus en Español
Papa Francisco en Bulgaria
Papa Francisco en Rumania
Papa Francisco en Marruecos
Papa Francisco en México
Papa Francisco – mensaje para la Jornada Mundial Juventud 2016
Papa Francisco – visita a Chile
Papa Francisco – visita a Perú
Papa Francisco en Colombia 1 + 2
Papa Francisco en Cuba
Papa Francisco en Fátima
Papa Francisco en la JMJ 2016 – Polonia
Papa Francisco en Hugaría e Eslovaquia
Queridas Amazoznia 1,2,3,4
Resurrección de Jesucristo – según los Evangelios
Revolución Rusa y Comunismo 1, 2, 3
Santa Agata, virgen y martir
San Alberto Magno
San Antonio de Padua
San Francisco de Asis 1,2,3,4
Santa Cecilia
Santa Maria Goretti
San Ignacio de Loyola
Santa Isabel de Hungria
San José, obrero, marido, padre
San Juan Ma Vianney, Curé de’Ars
San Juan de la Cruz
San Martin de Tours
San Maximiliano Kolbe
Santa Teresa de Calcuta
San Padre Pio de Pietralcina
San Patricio e Irlanda
Santiago Apóstol
Santos Zacarias e Isabel, padres de Juan Bautista
Semana santa – Vistas de las últimas horas de JC
Vacaciones Cristianas
Valentín
Virgen de Guadalupe
Vocación – www.vocación.org
Vocación a evangelizar
Para comentarios – email – mflynn@lcegionaries.org
fb – martin m. flynn
Donations to - BANCO - 03069 INTESA SANPAOLO SPA
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